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2021 SPECIAL SESSION I

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Senate Committee on Transportation

Chair: David W. Marsden

Clerk: Eric Bingham
Staff: Lisa Wallmeyer
Date of Meeting: February 11, 2021
Time and Place: 15 minutes after adjournment, East Committee Room - SMV
Updated to include HB1801 & HB2138

H.B. 1796 License plates, special; removes fee for issuance to Va. National Guard retirees.

Patron: Walker

Special license plates; Virginia National Guard retirees. Removes the fee for the issuance of a special license plate for retired members of the Virginia National Guard. Currently, such special license plates cost the same as the prescribed cost for a typical Virginia license plate.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-746.5 of the Code of Virginia, relating to special license plates; Virginia National Guard retirees.

21100745D

H.B. 1801 Disposing of litter; penalty.

Patron: Edmunds

Disposing of litter; penalty. Increases the minimum fine for dumping or disposing of litter, trash, or other unsightly matter on public or private property from $250 to $500.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 33.2-802 of the Code of Virginia, relating to disposing of litter; penalty.

21101638D

H.B. 1813 Highway construction by state or local employees; limit.

Patron: Krizek

Highway construction by state or local employees; limit. Increases from $600,000 to $700,000 the value of highway maintenance and construction projects eligible to be performed by state or local employees.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 33.2-234 of the Code of Virginia, relating to highway construction by state or local employees; limit.

21102052D

H.B. 1828 Commissioner of DMV; powers and duties during a declared state of emergency.

Patron: Roem

Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles; powers and duties. Authorizes the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles, for the duration of a declared state of emergency and for up to 90 days after it has been rescinded or expires, to (i) extend the validity or delay the cancellation of driver's licenses, special identification cards, and vehicle registrations; (ii) extend the time frame during which a driver improvement clinic or payment plan may be completed; (iii) extend the maximum number of days of residency permitted before a new resident must be licensed in Virginia to operate a motor vehicle in the Commonwealth; and (iv) extend the time frame during which a new resident may operate a motor vehicle in the Commonwealth that has been registered in another jurisdiction before registering the vehicle in the Commonwealth.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-223 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles; powers and duties.

21102068D

H.B. 1846 License restrictions for minors; prohibition on use of handheld personal communications devices.

Patron: Robinson

License restrictions for minors; use of handheld personal communications devices. Clarifies that the prohibition on the use of a handheld personal communications device or other wireless communications device by the holder of a provisional driver's license applies regardless of whether or not the device is being used for communication purposes. The bill exempts the use of such device's applications for solely navigation purposes and global positioning systems, provided that the driver does not enter information into or manually manipulate the device or system while operating the vehicle.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-334.01, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, of the Code of Virginia, relating to license restrictions for minors; use of handheld personal communications devices.

21101770D

H.B. 1850 Motor vehicle weight limits; vehicles powered primarily by electric battery power, etc.

Patron: Reid

Motor vehicle weight limits; vehicles powered primarily by electric battery power or fueled primarily by natural gas. Authorizes motor vehicles powered primarily by means of electric battery power to exceed relevant weight limits by 2,000 pounds, provided that such weight is on the power unit and such weight does not exceed 82,000 pounds on an interstate highway. The bill also changes the weight exemption for motor vehicles fueled primarily by natural gas on an interstate highway from the difference between the weight of the natural gas tank and fueling system and a comparable diesel tank and fueling system to up to an additional 2,000 pounds, provided that such weight is on the power unit and does not exceed 82,000 pounds.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-1129.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to motor vehicle weight limits; vehicles powered primarily by electric battery power or fueled primarily by natural gas.

21101300D

H.B. 1851 Unmanned aircraft; exempts an owner from the requirement to register.

Patron: Delaney

Aircraft registration; unmanned aircraft. Exempts an owner of an unmanned aircraft from the requirement to register aircrafts.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 5.1-5 of the Code of Virginia, relating to aircraft registration; unmanned aircraft.

21100608D

H.B. 1893 New River Valley Passenger Rail Station Authority; creation of authority in Planning District 4.

Patron: Hurst

New River Valley Passenger Rail Station Authority; creation. Authorizes the creation of a regional passenger rail station authority in Planning District 4 to assist in the creation and maintenance of passenger rail in the region. The authority would be authorized to enter into revenue sharing agreements and to issue revenue bonds. The authority would be governed by a board consisting of members of each participating locality and institution of higher education.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 33.2 a chapter numbered 38, consisting of sections numbered 33.2-3800 through 33.2-3816, relating to creation of the New River Valley Passenger Rail Station Authority.

21100517D

H.B. 1901 Online Virginia Driver's Manual course; training school.

Patron: Carr

Online Virginia Driver's Manual course; training school. Removes the requirement that a driver training school providing the Virginia Driver's Manual course online be a computer-based driver education provider, as defined in the Code of Virginia.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-325 of the Code of Virginia, relating to online Virginia Driver's Manual course; training school.

21100811D

H.B. 1903 Local government; authority to reduce the speed limit in a business district or residence district.

Patron: Carr

Local government authority; reduction of speed limits. Authorizes local governing bodies to reduce the speed limit to less than 25 miles per hour, but not less than 15 miles per hour, in a business district or residence district.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-1300, as it is effective and as it shall become effective, of the Code of Virginia, relating to local government authority; reduction of speed limits.

21101800D

H.B. 1960 Vehicle registration; special communication needs indicator.

Patron: Bell

Vehicle registration; special communication needs indicator. Expands eligibility for a special communication needs indicator on a vehicle registration to vehicle owners whose vehicle is regularly occupied by an individual who has a disability that can impair communication. Current law authorizes those vehicle owners who have a disability that can impair communication to apply for such an indicator. The bill authorizes the removal of such indicator by request in writing to the Department of Motor Vehicles.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-600.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to vehicle registration; special communication needs indicator.

21101543D

H.B. 1961 Special identification cards; application by guardian.

Patron: Bell

Special identification cards; application by guardian. Authorizes the parent of any person under the age of 18 or the legal guardian of any person to apply for a special identification card on behalf of such person. Current law authorizes the parent or legal guardian of any person under the age of 15 to apply for a special identification card on behalf of such person.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-345 of the Code of Virginia, relating to special identification cards; application by guardian.

21101694D

H.B. 2024 Dept. of Transportation to work w/ Patrick County in constructing replica.

Patron: Poindexter

Department of Transportation; replica of the Bob White Covered Bridge. Requires the Department of Transportation to work with the governing body of Patrick County and community groups interested in constructing a replica of the Bob White Covered Bridge to approve a construction plan for a replica of the Bob White Covered Bridge for tourism purposes open for pedestrian, non-motor vehicle traffic. The bill requires that such replica bridge meet certain federal design and construction specifications.

A BILL to approve a construction plan for a replica of the Bob White Covered Bridge in Patrick County.

21101593D

H.B. 2069 License plates, special; cost of plates for recipients of military decorations.

Patron: McQuinn

Special license plates; military decorations. Establishes a system for determining the cost of special license plates for recipients of a military decoration based on the order of precedence of such military decoration as determined by the federal Department of Defense or other relevant federal agency. The bill authorizes the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue plates with a "V" for Valor Device on appropriate plates issued by the Department reflecting a military decoration. The bill provides that special license plates for recipients of a military decoration are exempt from the prepaid application requirement for special license plates and may be issued to unremarried surviving spouses of eligible recipients. The bill creates special license plates for recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross with a "V" for Valor, the Airman's Medal, the Army Soldier's Medal, the Coast Guard Medal, the Distinguished Service Medal, the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, the Marine Corps Distinguished Service Medal, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, and the Defense Superior Service Medal. The bill changes from one-time to annual the $10 fee for certain special license plates issued after the effective date of this bill.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 46.2-742.1, 46.2-742.2, 46.2-745.1, and 46.2-745.2 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding sections numbered 46.2-725.3, 46.2-745.4, and 46.2-745.5, relating to special license plates; military decorations.

21103947D

H.B. 2071 Transportation funding; statewide prioritization process, resiliency.

Patron: Convirs-Fowler

Transportation projects; resiliency. Requires the Commonwealth Transportation Board to determine whether a project has been designed to be resilient when evaluating projects for the Six-Year Improvement Program and consider resiliency when establishing the Statewide Transportation Plan. The bill also requires the Commissioner of Highways to ensure resiliency is incorporated into the design standards for new construction projects.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 33.2-214.2 and 33.2-353 of the Code of Virginia, relating to transportation projects; resiliency.

21103472D

H.B. 2138 Identification privilege cards; authorizes DMV to issue, fee, confidentiality, penalties.

Patron: Guzman

Identification privilege cards; fee; confidentiality; penalties. Authorizes the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue identification privilege cards to applicants who hold a citizenship or legal presence status that is eligible for a special identification card or a limited-duration special identification card and have reported income from Virginia sources or been claimed as a dependent on an individual tax return filed with the Commonwealth in the preceding 12 months. The bill provides that identification privilege cards shall be treated as special identification cards unless otherwise provided in the Code of Virginia. The bill limits the release of certain information stored by the Department. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2022.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 24.2-411.3, 24.2-643, 46.2-203.2, 46.2-216.1, 46.2-323.01, 46.2-323.1, 46.2-346, 46.2-600.1, and 58.1-3 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 46.2 a section numbered 46.2-345.3, relating to identification privilege cards; fee; confidentiality; penalties.

21102728D

H.B. 2146 Parked cars; VDOT right-of-way.

Patron: Miyares

Parked cars; VDOT right-of-way. Authorizes vehicles to be stopped or parked in an unoccupied Department of Transportation right-of-way adjacent to a highway in case of an emergency, accident, or mechanical breakdown. The bill clarifies that the term "emergency" includes retrieving a companion animal from a highway or area adjacent to a highway.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-889 of the Code of Virginia, relating to parked cars; VDOT right-of-way.

21101099D

H.B. 2216 Va. Missing Child w/ Autism Alert Program; renames Va. Missing Person w/ Autism Program.

Patron: Hayes

Virginia Missing Person with Autism Alert Program. Renames the Virginia Missing Child with Autism Alert Program to the Virginia Missing Person with Autism Alert Program and expands it to apply to any missing person with autism, regardless of age. The bill defines "a missing person with autism" as any person (i) whose whereabouts are unknown; (ii) who has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder as defined by the Code of Virginia; and (iii) whose disappearance poses a credible threat to the safety and health of the person.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 52-34.13, 52-34.14, and 52-34.15 of the Code of Virginia, relating the Virginia Missing Person with Autism Alert Program.

21100556D

H.B. 2261 License plates, special; removes fee for issuance to a member of the Virginia National Guard.

Patron: Wyatt

Special license plates; member of the Virginia National Guard. Removes the fee for the issuance of special license plates to a member of the Virginia National Guard. Current law provides that such special license plates are issued at half the prescribed cost of state license plates. The bill does not change the fee for personalized special license plates.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-744 of the Code of Virginia, relating to special license plates; member of the Virginia National Guard.

21102559D

H.B. 2262 Bicycles; permits operators to treat a stop sign as a yield sign in certain situations.

Patron: Hurst

Traffic regulation; bicycles. Permits operators of bicycles to treat a stop sign as a yield sign in certain situations. The bill requires the driver of a motor vehicle to change lanes when overtaking a bicycle or certain other vehicles when the lane of travel is not wide enough for the overtaking motor vehicle to pass at least three feet to the left of the overtaken vehicle. The bill also removes the limitations on riding bicycles and certain other vehicles two abreast.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 46.2-839 and 46.2-905 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 46.2-903.1, relating to traffic regulation; bicycles.

21101122D

H.B. 2294 Vehicle's odometer; disclosure exemption.

Patron: Cole, J.G.

Odometer disclosure exemption. Provides that the exemption from disclosing a vehicle's odometer reading applies only to vehicles exempt from recording an odometer in another state that were manufactured (i) in or before the 2010 model year and transferred at least 10 years after January 1 of the vehicle's model year or (ii) in or after the 2011 model year and transferred at least 20 years after January 1 of the vehicle's model year. Current law exempts disclosure for vehicles exempt from disclosure in another state that were manufactured for a model year at least 10 years earlier than the vehicle transfer. This bill complies with federal regulations regarding odometer disclosure exemptions.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-629 of the Code of Virginia, relating to odometer disclosure exemption.

21102099D

H.B. 2318 Test driving vehicles; residence districts, civil penalty.

Patron: Roem

Test driving vehicles; residence districts; civil penalty. Authorizes localities by ordinance to require motor vehicle dealers in the locality to notify a buyer or potential buyer that test driving a motor vehicle in a residence district that has been designated for increased fines is prohibited, unless the buyer or potential driver is driving to or from his residence. The bill requires the locality to notify licensed motor vehicle dealers located within the locality of the enactment of such ordinance and send a copy of such notification to the Motor Vehicle Dealer Board. The bill authorizes the locality to notify the Board if a buyer or potential buyer is convicted of a traffic infraction while conducting a test drive in a prohibited location. The bill provides that the Board may determine if the proper notice was given and impose a civil penalty if such notice was not given.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 46.2-1533.1, relating to test driving vehicles; residence districts.

21102891D